I am working on a case study and I need to know what a "FAST" test is!

[clmsngrl82]

Basically we have a pt coming by helicopter who was involved in a single-car MVA. Something ignited in the passangers seat and the pt was burned. He has a GCS score of 8 at the scene. He was intubated and is being ventilated. HR-120, BP-80 systolic. He has bleeding from an open perineal wound where he experienced blunt trauma from the hydraulic cylinder. EMS reports he has femoral pulses, but no radial. He is cool, pale, and diaphoretic. There is blood coming from under the pts pelvic area. His pre-burn weight is 160.

~~it goes on to say that "due to excessive bleeding the patient is given multiple transfusions of O- blood in the ED."~~

Then my question

~The patient undergoes a FAST. What is this test and why is it used?

Please help I cannot find this answer anywhere....

[dark_light]

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST)

Found your answer here:

http://emergency-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2007/803/3

and here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/91183.php

and a video here:

http://www.medrounds.org/emergency-medicine/2007/04/fast-exam-ultrasonography-in-trauma.html

[JessicaSN]

http://www.dcmsonline.org/jax-medicine/1999journals/march99/ultrasound.htm

About halfway down the page the FAST exam is explained.

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

Post deleted---wrong information. Sorry!

[mandasueRN]

Did you find all the info you needed? I worked at a trauma center and saw FAST exams done on a daily basis, I can help explain it further if needed.

[nursenow]

I am glad you ask that question because I didnt know the answer and I feel like I should!

When I have a question that I need a fast answer for and I am at home, I google it and have always found the answer.

[neneRN, BSN, RN]

A FAST exam is a bedside ultrasound, typically of the abdomen, that is standard for all trauma patients.

[clmsngrl82]

I did get my info..thank you though.

[PICURN74, ASN, RN]

The scale is 3-15 with extremes at both ends. In our facility 10 and below is a sure way to get the million dollar workup

http://www.trauma.org/archive/scores/gcs.html

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

these sites include some information on the interpretation of the score:

• http://www.medal.org/visitor/www/active/ch17/ch17.01/ch17.01.01.aspx
  
• http://biau.org/facts/facts_glasgow.html
  
• http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/556170 - a review of the predictive ability of glasgow coma scale scores in head-injured patients

you might consider posting your questions on one of these student forums in order to get better responses:

• https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/ - nursing student assistance forum
  
• https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/ - the general nursing student discussion forum
  

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

General rule= less than 8? IN-TU-BATE!

[GOMER42]

General rule= less than 8? IN-TU-BATE!

That pretty much sums it up